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Level 6

School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay

25th December, 2015

http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Contents

The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 14

Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 15

Before Reading / Listening 4 Spelling 16

While Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 17

Match The Sentences And Listen 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 18

Listening Gap Fill 7 Circle The Correct Word 19

Comprehension Questions 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 20

Multiple Choice - Quiz 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 21

Role Play 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 22

After Reading / Listening 11 Free Writing 23

Student Survey 12 Academic Writing 24

Discussion (20 Questions) 13 Homework 25

Answers 26

Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).

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THE ARTICLE

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

A maths teacher at a high school in Maine, USA has been allowed to keep
her pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom. The tree was made
from pink plastic and was adorned with Hello Kitty ornaments. The
teacher, Catherine Gordon, had earlier been ordered by the school
principal Paul Butler to remove it after he decided it was an
"inappropriate" Christmas decoration. Mr Butler explained to ABC News
that he initially believed the tree did not fit with the way the school
celebrated the different religious events happening at this time of the
year. He said: "A concern was shared with me regarding an inconsistency
with our balanced approach to holiday observances."

Ms Gordon said: "I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty tree was offensive….It's
a tree that's been up in my classroom for years." She posted her story on
Facebook and it quickly went viral. She wrote: "The tree had no religious
symbols on it whatsoever. No crosses or angels, just pink Hello Kitties
and my students really enjoyed it." She added that society was becoming
too worried about upsetting different people. She said: "I feel that this is
definitely a turning point in our society when everything offends everyone
all the time. It just sucks the joy out of everything." She told the local
newspaper that: "It just seems that in our quest to be tolerant of
everything, we've become intolerant to everything."

Sources: http://abcnews.go.com/US/hs-teacher-told-remove-kitty-christmas-tree-
classroom/story?id=35908832
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mbvd/teacher-asked-to-remove-hello-kitty-christmas-tree-from-
clas#.lmqaZqqK6
http://fox4kc.com/2015/12/22/after-forcing-teacher-to-remove-christmas-tree-school-backs-
down/

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 2

WARM-UPS

1. CHRISTMAS TREES: Students walk around the class and talk to other

students about Christmas trees. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will

the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

maths teacher / Christmas tree / ornaments / school principal / believed / balanced /
pink / offensive / religious symbols / worried / society / offends everyone / intolerant

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. CHRISTMAS: How important are these Christmas things? Complete this table

with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

How important? Why?

Helping others
Presents
Turkey
Parties
Trees
Movies

4. CARTOON CHARACTERS: Students A strongly believe cartoon characters

should never be used in religious celebrations; Students B strongly believe it's no problem
if they are. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

5. CARTOON CHARACTERS: Rank these with your partner. Put the best at the

top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

• Hello Kitty • Elsa from Frozen
• Mickey Mouse • Woody from Toy Story
• Superman • Shrek
• Snoopy • Wonder Woman

6. PINK: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with

the word "pink". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put
the words into different categories.

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 3

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

a. A school had an issue over a pink Christmas tree. T/F
b. The principal of the school ordered a teacher to remove a Xmas tree. T/F
c. The principal said the tree did not match its religious events policy. T/F
d. The principal said the school needed a balanced approach to Xmas. T/F
e. The teacher said she thought the tree might have been offensive. T/F
f. The tree had small crosses and angels on it. T/F
g. The teacher said society seems to be offended by everything. T/F
h. The teacher said society was becoming more tolerant. T/F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. adorned a. at first
2 ordered b. insulting
3. inappropriate c. troubling
4. initially d. unsuitable
5. concern e. at all
6. offensive f. decorated
7. whatsoever g. worry
8. upsetting h. accepting
9. joy i. instructed
10. tolerant j. pleasure

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. adorned with a. point in our society
2 the school b. to everything
3. he initially believed the tree c. holiday observances
4. the school celebrated the different religious d. whatsoever
5. our balanced approach to e. principal
6. it quickly went f. out of everything
7. no religious symbols on it g. events
8. this is definitely a turning h. viral
9. It just sucks the joy i. did not fit
10. we've become intolerant j. Hello Kitty ornaments

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 4

GAP FILL

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

A maths teacher at a high school in Maine, USA has been allowed plastic
to (1) ____________ her pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her concern
classroom. The tree was made from pink (2) ____________ and remove
was adorned with Hello Kitty ornaments. The teacher, Catherine balanced
Gordon, had earlier been (3) ____________ by the school keep
principal Paul Butler to (4) ____________ it after he decided it religious
was an "inappropriate" Christmas decoration. Mr Butler explained ordered
to ABC News that he (5) ____________ believed the tree did not initially
fit with the way the school celebrated the different
(6) ____________ events happening at this time of the year. He
said: "A (7) ____________ was shared with me regarding an
inconsistency with our (8) ____________ approach to holiday
observances."

Ms Gordon said: "I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty tree was angels
(9) ____________ ….It's a tree that's been up in my classroom for viral
years." She posted her story on Facebook and it quickly went turning
(10) ____________. She wrote: "The tree had no religious intolerant
(11) ____________ on it whatsoever. No crosses or offensive
(12) ____________, just pink Hello Kitties and my students really symbols
enjoyed it." She added that society was becoming too sucks
(13) ____________ about upsetting different people. She said: "I worried
feel that this is definitely a (14) ____________ point in our
society when everything offends everyone all the time. It just
(15) ____________ the joy out of everything." She told the local
newspaper that: "It just seems that in our quest to be tolerant of
everything, we've become (16) ____________ to everything."

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 5

LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

1) The tree was made from pink plastic and was adorned with ______
a. Hello Kitty ornaments
b. Hello Kitty ornament
c. Hello Kitty ornamental
d. Hello Kitty adornments

2) The teacher, Catherine Gordon, had earlier been ordered by ______
a. the school principal
b. the school principle
c. the school principals
d. the school principles

3) remove it after he decided it was an "inappropriate" ______
a. Christmas decorations
b. Christmas decorative
c. Christmas decorated
d. Christmas decoration

4) the school celebrated the different religious events happening at ______ year
a. this time in the
b. this time at the
c. this time of the
d. this time by the

5) regarding an inconsistency with our balanced approach to ______
a. holiday observance is
b. holiday observances
c. holiday observance
d. holiday observe ants is

6) I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty tree ______
a. was offensive
b. was defensive
c. was offended
d. was offensively

7) She posted her story on Facebook and it ______
a. quickly went vital
b. quickly went pivotal
c. quickly went revival
d. quickly went viral

8) She added that society was becoming too worried about upsetting ______
a. differently people
b. difference people
c. differential people
d. different people

9) a turning point in our society when everything offends everyone ______
a. all the time
b. all this time
c. all the times
d. all these times

10) in our quest to be tolerant of everything, we've become ______
a. intolerant too everything
b. intolerant two everything
c. intolerant to everything
d. intolerance to everything

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 6

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

A maths teacher at a high school in Maine, USA (1) ___________________
to keep her pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom. The tree was
made from pink plastic (2) ___________________ with Hello Kitty
ornaments. The teacher, Catherine Gordon, had earlier been ordered by the
school principal Paul Butler to (3) ___________________ he decided it was
an "inappropriate" Christmas decoration. Mr Butler explained to ABC News
that he initially believed the tree (4) ___________________ the way the
school celebrated the different religious events happening at this time of the
year. He said: "A concern was (5) ___________________ regarding an
inconsistency with (6) ___________________ to holiday observances."

Ms Gordon said: "I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty (7) ___________________
….It's a tree that's been up in my classroom for years." She posted her story
on Facebook and it (8) ___________________. She wrote: "The tree had no
religious symbols on it whatsoever. No (9) ___________________, just pink
Hello Kitties and my students really enjoyed it." She added that society was
becoming too worried about (10) ___________________ different people.
She said: "I feel that this is definitely a turning point in our society when
(11) ___________________ everyone all the time. It just sucks the joy out
of everything." She told the local newspaper that: "It just seems that in our
quest to be tolerant of everything, we've (12) ___________________
everything."

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 7

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

1. Where can a teacher now keep her Christmas tree?
2. What kind or ornaments was the tree adorned with?
3. What kind of Christmas decoration did the principal call the tree?
4. Which news agency did the principal talk to?
5. What approach does the school have towards holiday observances?
6. For how long has the tree been in the classroom?
7. What kind of symbols are not on the tree?
8. What kind of point in society did the teacher talk about?
9. What did the teacher say is sucked out of everything?
10. What did the teacher say we've become intolerant of?

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 8

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

1. Where can a teacher now keep her 6. For how long has the tree been in the
Christmas tree? classroom?

a) in the school yard a) years
b) in her classroom b) months
c) in her garden c) weeks
d) at home d) days

2. What kind or ornaments was the tree 7. What kind of symbols are not on the
adorned with? tree?

a) expensive ones a) Christmas ones
b) angels b) maths ones
c) Hello Kitty ones c) beautiful ones
d) handmade ones d) religious ones

3. What kind of Christmas decoration did 8. What kind of point in society did the

the principal call the tree? teacher talk about?

a) unacceptable a) point blank

b) ugly b) a point of view

c) beautiful c) a turning point

d) inappropriate d) a focal point

4. Which news agency did the principal 9. What did the teacher say is sucked out
talk to? of everything?

a) BBC a) education
b) ABC b) passion
c) CNN c) money
d) CBC d) joy

5. What approach does the school have 10. What did the teacher say we've become
towards holiday observances? intolerant to?

a) a balanced one a) tolerance
b) a considered b) everything
c) two c) society
d) major ones d) Christmas

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 9

ROLE PLAY

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Role A – Hello Kitty
You think Hello Kitty is the best cartoon character. Tell the
others three reasons why. Tell them why their characters
aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least
interesting of these (and why): Mickey Mouse, Snoopy or Elsa
from Frozen.

Role B – Mickey Mouse
You think Mickey Mouse is the best cartoon character. Tell the
others three reasons why. Tell them why their characters
aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least
interesting of these (and why): Hello Kitty, Snoopy or Elsa
from Frozen.

Role C – Snoopy
You think Snoopy is the best cartoon character. Tell the others
three reasons why. Tell them why their characters aren't so
good. Also, tell the others which is the least interesting of
these (and why): Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty or Elsa from
Frozen.

Role D – Elsa from Frozen
You think Elsa from Frozen is the best cartoon character. Tell
the others three reasons why. Tell them why their characters
aren't so good. Also, tell the others which is the least
interesting of these (and why): Mickey Mouse, Snoopy or Hello
Kitty.

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 10

AFTER READING / LISTENING

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'Christmas' and
'tree'.

Christmas tree

• Share your findings with your partners.
• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try

to recall how they were used in the text:

• keep • offensive
• plastic • story
• ordered • symbols
• explained • enjoyed
• events • joy
• balanced • local

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 11

CHRISTMAS TREES SURVEY

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Write five GOOD questions about Christmas trees in the table. Do this in pairs. Each
student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3

_____________ _____________ _____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.

• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 12

CHRISTMAS TREES DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1) What did you think when you read the headline?
2) What springs to mind when you hear the word 'Christmas tree'?
3) What do you think about what you read?
4) Was the school principal right to have initially banned the tree?
5) What do you think of Hello Kitty being tied in with Christmas?
6) What do you think of Christmas trees?
7) Why might the tree have been thought of as inappropriate?
8) Should teachers be allowed to decorate their classrooms as they wish?
9) What is a 'balanced approach' to holiday observances?
10) What advice do you have for the school principal?

School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015
More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHRISTMAS TREES DISCUSSION

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11) Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
12) What do you think of Hello Kitty?
13) Are we becoming a society that is too worried about upsetting people?
14) Why might some people find a pink Hello Kitty tree to be offensive?
15) What do you think of Christmas?
16) Why do we have Christmas trees at Christmas?
17) Do rules suck the joy out of everything?
18) Is society becoming more intolerant?
19) How do you observe your major religious holidays?
20) What questions would you like to ask Ms Gordon?

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 13

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________

Copyright © www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com 2015

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 14

LANGUAGE - CLOZE

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

A maths teacher at a high school in Maine, USA has been (1) ____ to keep her pink
Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom. The tree was made from pink plastic
and was (2) ____ with Hello Kitty ornaments. The teacher, Catherine Gordon, had
earlier been ordered by the school principal Paul Butler to remove it (3) ____ he
decided it was an "inappropriate" Christmas decoration. Mr Butler explained to ABC
News that he (4) ____ believed the tree did not fit with the way the school
celebrated the different religious events (5) ____ at this time of the year. He said:
"A concern was shared with me (6) ____ an inconsistency with our balanced
approach to holiday observances."

Ms Gordon said: "I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty tree was (7) ____ ….It's a tree
that's been up in my classroom for years." She posted her story on Facebook and it
quickly went (8) ____. She wrote: "The tree had no religious symbols on it
(9) ____. No crosses or angels, just pink Hello Kitties and my students really
enjoyed it." She added that society was becoming too worried about upsetting
different people. She said: "I feel that this is definitely a (10) ____ point in our
society when everything offends everyone all the time. It just sucks the (11) ____
out of everything." She told the local newspaper that: "It just seems that in our
(12) ____ to be tolerant of everything, we've become intolerant to everything."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1. (a) allowable (b) allowance (c) allows (d) allowed

2. (a) admonished (b) adored (c) addressed (d) adorned

3. (a) then (b) after (c) that (d) this

4. (a) initialled (b) initialised (c) initially (d) initials

5. (a) happening (b) happens (c) happened (d) happen

6. (a) regarding (b) regaling (c) regaining (d) reclaiming

7. (a) preventative (b) defensive (c) fencing (d) offensive

8. (a) viral (b) vital (c) virus (d) vitally

9. (a) whichever (b) whatsoever (c) whereabouts (d) whomsoever

10. (a) timing (b) trading (c) turning (d) toning

11. (a) toy (b) boy (c) joy (d) coy

12. (a) answer (b) quest (c) trip (d) interrogate

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 15

SPELLING

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Paragraph 1

1. adorned with Hello Kitty rmsnntaoe
2. Christmas tcoieoradn
3. he ainiytlil believed the tree did not fit
4. A noeccnr was shared
5. our lbncaaed approach
6. holiday brenavsesoc

Paragraph 2

7. a pink Hello Kitty tree was fneesfovi
8. no ruigsiole symbols on it whatsoever
9. styocie was becoming too worried
10. ltdfneiiey a turning point
11. everything offdens everyone all the time
12. we've become nonertlait to everything

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 16

PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Number these lines in the correct order.

( ) ornaments. The teacher, Catherine Gordon, had earlier been ordered
by the school principal Paul Butler to remove

( ) up in my classroom for years." She posted her story on Facebook
and it quickly went viral. She wrote: "The tree had no

( 1 ) A maths teacher at a high school in Maine, USA has been allowed to
keep her pink Hello Kitty Christmas

( ) religious symbols on it whatsoever. No crosses or angels, just pink
Hello Kitties and my students really

( ) to ABC News that he initially believed the tree did not fit with the
way the school celebrated the different religious

( ) inconsistency with our balanced approach to holiday observances."

( ) quest to be tolerant of everything, we've become intolerant to
everything."

( ) tree in her classroom. The tree was made from pink plastic and was
adorned with Hello Kitty

( ) events happening at this time of the year. He said: "A concern was
shared with me regarding an

( ) enjoyed it." She added that society was becoming too worried about
upsetting different people. She said: "I feel

( ) it after he decided it was an "inappropriate" Christmas decoration.
Mr Butler explained

( ) Ms Gordon said: "I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty tree was
offensive….It's a tree that's been

( ) the joy out of everything." She told the local newspaper that: "It just
seems that in our

( ) that this is definitely a turning point in our society when everything
offends everyone all the time. It just sucks

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 17

PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

1. teacher high Maine maths a in A at school .
2. He inappropriate decided Christmas it decoration was an .
3. did tree The celebrated school the way the with fit not .
4. happening time year events this the religious at of Different .
5. with balanced inconsistency our approach An .
6. pink Hello Kitty tree was offensive I didn’t think a .
7. tree religious it The no on had symbols whatsoever .
8. turning our This a in definitely point society is .
9. just of sucks everything the joy It out .
10. of quest everything to be In tolerant our .

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 18

CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

A maths teacher at a high school in Maine, USA has been allowing / allowed
to keep her pink Hello Kitty Christmas tree in her classroom. The tree was
made / making from pink plastic and was adorned / adorns with Hello Kitty
ornaments. The teacher, Catherine Gordon, had earlier been ordered by the
school principal Paul Butler to remove it then / after he decided it was an
"inappropriate" Christmas decoration / decorative. Mr Butler explained to
ABC News that he initialed / initially believed the tree did not fitting / fit with
the way the school celebrated the difference / different religious events
happening at this time of / for the year. He said: "A concern was shared with
me regarding an inconsistency with our balanced / balance approach to
holiday observances."

Ms Gordon said: "I didn’t think a pink Hello Kitty tree was defensive /
offensive….It's a tree that's been down / up in my classroom for years." She
posted her story on Facebook and it quickly went vital / viral. She wrote:
"The tree had no religious symbolic / symbols on it whatsoever. No crosses
or angels, just pink Hello Kitties and my students really enjoyed / enjoying
it." She added that society was becoming too worries / worried about
upsetting different people. She said: "I feel that this is definitely / definite a
turning point in our society when everything offensive / offends everyone all
the time. It just sucks the joy / joyous out of everything." She told the local
newspaper that: "It just seems that in our quest to be tolerant of
everything, we've become intolerant / intolerance to everything."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct.

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 19

INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

_ m_ths t__ch_r _t _ h_gh sch__l _n M__n_, _S_ h_s
b__n _ll_w_d t_ k__p h_r p_nk H_ll_ K_tty Chr_stm_s
tr__ _n h_r cl_ssr__m. Th_ tr__ w_s m_d_ fr_m p_nk
pl_st_c _nd w_s _d_rn_d w_th H_ll_ K_tty _rn_m_nts.
Th_ t__ch_r, C_th_r_n_ G_rd_n, h_d __rl__r b__n
_rd_r_d by th_ sch__l pr_nc_p_l P__l B_tl_r t_ r_m_v_
_t _ft_r h_ d_c_d_d _t w_s _n "_n_ppr_pr__t_"
Chr_stm_s d_c_r_t__n. Mr B_tl_r _xpl__n_d t_ _BC
N_ws th_t h_ _n_t__lly b_l__v_d th_ tr__ d_d n_t f_t
w_th th_ w_y th_ sch__l c_l_br_t_d th_ d_ff_r_nt
r_l_g___s _v_nts h_pp_n_ng _t th_s t_m_ _f th_ y__r.
H_ s__d: "_ c_nc_rn w_s sh_r_d w_th m_ r_g_rd_ng _n
_nc_ns_st_ncy w_th __r b_l_nc_d _ppr__ch t_ h_l_d_y
_ bs_ rv_ nc_ s."

Ms G_rd_n s__d: "_ d_dn’t th_nk _ p_nk H_ll_ K_tty
tr__ w_s _ff_ns_v_…._t's _ tr__ th_t's b__n _p _n my
cl_ssr__m f_r y__rs." Sh_ p_st_d h_r st_ry _n
F_c_b__k _nd _t q__ckly w_nt v_r_l. Sh_ wr_t_: "Th_
tr__ h_d n_ r_l_g___s symb_ls _n _t wh_ts__v_r. N_
cr_ss_s _r _ng_ls, j_st p_nk H_ll_ K_tt__s _nd my
st_d_nts r__lly _nj_y_d _t." Sh_ _dd_d th_t s_c__ty
w_s b_c_m_ng t__ w_rr__d _b__t _ps_tt_ng d_ff_r_nt
p__pl_. Sh_ s__d: "_ f__l th_t th_s _s d_f_n_t_ly _
t_rn_ng p__nt _n __r s_c__ty wh_n _v_ryth_ng _ff_nds
_v_ry_n_ _ll th_ t_m_. _t j_st s_cks th_ j_y __t _f
_v_ryth_ng." Sh_ t_ld th_ l_c_l n_wsp_p_r th_t: "_t
j_st s__ms th_t _n __r q__st t_ b_ t_l_r_nt _f
_v_ryth_ng, w_'v_ b_c_m_ _nt_l_r_nt t_ _v_ryth_ng."

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 20

PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

a maths teacher at a high school in maine usa has been allowed to keep her
pink hello kitty christmas tree in her classroom the tree was made from pink
plastic and was adorned with hello kitty ornaments the teacher catherine
gordon had earlier been ordered by the school principal paul butler to
remove it after he decided it was an "inappropriate" christmas decoration mr
butler explained to abc news that he initially believed the tree did not fit with
the way the school celebrated the different religious events happening at
this time of the year he said "a concern was shared with me regarding an
inconsistency with our balanced approach to holiday observances"

ms gordon said "i didn’t think a pink hello kitty tree was offensive…it's a tree
that's been up in my classroom for years" she posted her story on facebook
and it quickly went viral she wrote "the tree had no religious symbols on it
whatsoever no crosses or angels just pink hello kitties and my students
really enjoyed it" she added that society was becoming too worried about
upsetting different people she said "i feel that this is definitely a turning
point in our society when everything offends everyone all the time it just
sucks the joy out of everything" she told the local newspaper that "it just
seems that in our quest to be tolerant of everything we've become intolerant
to everything"

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 21

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

AmathsteacheratahighschoolinMaine,USAhasbeenallowedtokeeph
erpinkHelloKittyChristmastreeinherclassroom.Thetreewasmadefro
mpinkplasticandwasadornedwithHelloKittyornaments.Theteacher,
CatherineGordon,hadearlierbeenorderedbytheschoolprincipalPaulB
utlertoremoveitafterhedecideditwasan"inappropriate"Christmasde
coration.MrButlerexplainedtoABCNewsthatheinitiallybelievedthetre
edidnotfitwiththewaytheschoolcelebratedthedifferentreligiouseven
tshappeningatthistimeoftheyear.Hesaid:"Aconcernwassharedwith
meregardinganinconsistencywithourbalancedapproachtoholidayob
servances."MsGordonsaid:"Ididn’tthinkapinkHelloKittytreewasoffe
nsive….It'satreethat'sbeenupinmyclassroomforyears."Shepostedh
erstoryonFacebookanditquicklywentviral.Shewrote:"Thetreehadno
religioussymbolsonitwhatsoever.Nocrossesorangels,justpinkHelloK
ittiesandmystudentsreallyenjoyedit."Sheaddedthatsocietywasbeco
mingtooworriedaboutupsettingdifferentpeople.Shesaid:"Ifeelthatt
hisisdefinitelyaturningpointinoursocietywheneverythingoffendseve
ryoneallthetime.Itjustsucksthejoyoutofeverything."Shetoldthelocal
newspaperthat:"Itjustseemsthatinourquesttobetolerantofeverythi
ng,we'vebecomeintoleranttoeverything."

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 22

FREE WRITING

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Write about Christmas trees for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 23

ACADEMIC WRITING

From http://www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com/1512/151225-christmas-tree.html

Christmas has lots its true meaning in today's society. Discuss.

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Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 24

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the

text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to
build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about Christmas

trees. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. CHRISTMAS TREES: Make a poster about Christmas trees. Show

your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar
things?

4. TOLERANCE: Write a magazine article about tolerance in society.

Include imaginary interviews with people who believe we are becoming more
tolerant, and with those who believe we are becoming less tolerant.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next

stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Christmas. Ask him/her three

questions about it. Give him/her three ideas on how we can celebrate it
better. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your
partner(s) will answer your questions.

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 25

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE (p.4)

aT bT cT dF eF fF gT hF

SYNONYM MATCH (p.4) a. decorated
b. instructed
1. adorned c. unsuitable
2 ordered d. at first
3. inappropriate e. worry
4. initially f. troubling
5. concern g. at all
6. offensive h. insulting
7. whatsoever i. pleasure
8. upsetting j. accepting
9. joy
10. tolerant

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.8)

1. In her classroom
2. Hello Kitty ones
3. Inappropriate
4. ABC News
5. A balanced one
6. For years
7. Religious symbols
8. A turning point
9. Joy
10. Everything

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.9)

1. b 2. c 3. d 4. b 5. a 6. a 7. d 8. c 9. d 10. b

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

Level 6 School says Hello Kitty Christmas tree can stay – 25th December, 2015

More free lessons at www.BreakingNewsEnglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2015 26